Adjustable writing implement



- March 27 i928.

F. FUREDY ADJUSTABLE WRITING IMPLEMENT Original Filed July 22 1924 fa y www,

INVEN Patented Mar. 27, 1928.

. fuNrrEn ,sT-Ares PATENT 'o1-"Fles,-

rmnx Franny, or'ooxmm, New Yoan, AssIeNon 'ro aus'nwxcx ADJUSTABLE WRITING mrnmmntr.

` nimma med my as, 1924,'sem1 m. 127,460. Renewed rmy 1e, i921.

My invention relates to writin Iimplements having ad'ustable or movab e markin elements. ile the invention is adaptable in some or all of its features to implements of this class employing pen-or stylus points, it is especially adapted, as herein illustrated, to implements of the pencil class in .which the marking elements are crayons vns . the desired length of writing point.

' carrying a very substantial number of or leads.

An important object of the invention isto provide a pencil in which at least two or any reasonable plurality of crayons or leads are mounted for immediate selective use, with operating mechanism by which either leadf may be projected to writing position while theother is withdrawn within the case, and

the projected lead may be adjusted to ige e general structure. or arrangement of the lead holders is substantially similar to that disclosed inmy prior application, Serial No.

694,990, filed February 25, 1924, but the gresent invention embodies important modications and improvements. Especially the present invention' rovides for materlally simplifying and re ucing the cost of construction by avoiding the necessity for using gears or pinions in the operating mechamsm. e

- Another important object is to provide in connection with the lead holders, means for positively ejecting either of the active leads whenever it is desired to do so, as for example, when the-lead is almost used up and it isr desired to discharge the remaining stub so that afresh lead may be inserted.

The two leads inserted in the holders and ready for active use by projecting either one at will, may in some cases be of the same color, for instance, black leads of the same grade, and in that case one lead is in reserve for instant use when the other is exhausted, or if of the same color, the leads may be of different grades; otherwise the leads or cray-f' f ons maybe of different colors.

Provision is also made for conveniently spare j leads or crayons within the case.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention are vfurther suiciently explained in connection with the vfollowing detail description of the accompanying drawings,

'which show exemplifying embodiments of the invention. After considering these examples, persons skilled in the art will understand that-many variatlons maybe madev NATIONALBANX of a pencil vstructure embodying the-invention in one form. e i

2 is a section at 22, Fig.f1. Fig. 3`is a section at 3%3, Fig. 1. gig. 4 is a section at 4 4, Fig. 1.

1 of t e "-mainY lead shifting or impelling mem er.

. Fi 6 is a longitudinal section of a guide which serves mainly to direct the leads in ment.

Fig. 7 is a pencll. v v

Fig. 8 is an enlar ed fragmentary detail showing mainly the ead ho der and e'ector.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section of t per portion of a modified structure.

side elevation of the complete Fig. 10 is atransverse section at 10-10, i

igs. 11 and 12 are detail views of the modified structure.

In the physical embodiment of theinvention as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive 1 is a tubular case or housing in which is located a tubular guide structure 2, Fig. 6. Throughout the greater part of its vlength this guide structure is spaced away from the case. The lower portion of the guide member issplit or divided vinto two members 3 rlliylfloppositely located longij e lower ends of the memiis a side elevation on reduced scale b a lateral shifting or pivotal movcas clearly ally conical tip- 8 is 'screwed' upon these portions. The tip may therefore bev removed when necessary, althoughit is usuall unnecessary to movev the tip in the or inary use'of the pencil.V y` i y A tubular member' 10, Fig. 5, which may conveniently be designated as a shiftercr lead imgeller, is rotatively located between the gui e member 2 and the case' 1. s The lower end of the impeller rests onsho'ulders 13 having a to secure vthe im eller and other parts. `against voutward ythe eraser with of the lead `the impeller and after the latter is placed in the case, the upper edge of the case is pressed or s un inward to form a bea aiing fit in the channel 12 isplacement and at the same time permit rotation of the. impeller. Above channel 12 the impeller lias'a cylindrical portion 15 on which a cap 14 is placed with a tightslidin fit. The engaging faces of the cap and c indrical portionl be roughened or nurled if necessary to insure rotation of the impeller when the .cap is turned. The cap conveniently provides for enclosing an eraser 16 which may be inserted directly in the cylindrical extension 15 of the impeller, or otherwise, as shown, the eraser may be placed in-aholder or thimble 17 screw threaded toengage within the cylindrical impeller portion 15 so that its holder may be easily removed and replaced by'a new one if d'esired. To impart a rative appearance to the pencil, the cap 14 desirably terminates in aii end plate 1 8 which is inclined inrelation to the enc il axis and the eriphery of this end p ate is in the form o a sli ht y projecting flange or bead 19. This a'ci itates removal of the cap. The guide member 2 is formed withtwo opposite longitudinal substantiall semi-cylindrical channels 20 to accommo ate stems 21 and 22 which carry the active leads. Along the inward portion of each guide channel is a guide slot or cam trac 23 Each of these tracks consists of a straight per portion 23l and a straight lower ortion 23", these ortons being connecte by a short angular y arranged track portion 23 to produce v holderstem in co-o eration with pro'ections thereon as later exp ained. Stem 21 as a laterally extending knob or cam follower 24 located in the corresponding cam track 23, and. stem 22 has a similar projection or cam *follower 25 located in its corresponding track 23.

The impeller 10 has on its upper portion an impeller slot.27 in theform of a helix, which includes a portion 28 of relatively stee pitch and an upper portion 29 ofrelative fine pitch. In the lower portion o the impeller is an impeller slot 30z similar to the slot 27, except that its lead isin the o pcsite direction, that is the lead of the s ot 27 corresponds to a right hand thread; The slot 30 in similarity to slot 27 has a relatively long portion 31 of relative steep pitchl and a short upper rtion 32 of relatively fine pitch. The two impeller channels or slots are arranged in 15 may distinctiveY and deco- -lye , reduced portion terminating in a pivotal or rotative movement a left hand screw thread and that of slotv 30 corresponds t o different longitudinal peller since it is usual venient` for manufacturing these slots entirely through the tubular wall and therefore they must be located on diieigent longitudinal portions\of the impeller u e. i Stem 21 has an outwardlI extending pro- ]ection or im eller track fo lower 34 located in impeller s ot 27 and stem 22 has a similar outward pro'ection or track follower 33 located in impel er slot 30. To correspond with the locations of the respective slots, pro ection 24 of stem 21'is located substantial y at its upper end and projection 33 y0 y desirable or conortions' of the im# reasons to cut stem 22 is located relatively near the lower of each of the stems sgned'that the lower straight portion of the stem is in line with the center axis of the case when the stem isv in one of its rotative positions. A lead grip 45 is laced on the lower end of each stem.I The ower portionof the grip isprovided with o posite slots 40 formin two semi-cylndrica members which resi iently grip the lead when it is pushed between them.

ecting the lead ends or stubs, the grip is pre ei'ably. mounted for sliding movement upon the lower stem end. For this pu ose a portion 46 of the lower straighten of each stem is made of reduced diameter, this shoulders 47 and 48. After the grip is placed u on the lower end of the stem its upper tubu ar ortion 4 9 is spun or pressed inward to ave a sliding lit on reduced stem portion 46, and in this operation a shoulder 50 is formed at To provide for conveniently and positivef;

ioo

its

the lower end of the impressed sleeve portion 49 to cooperate with shoulder 48 and prevent downward dislocation of the lead grip. Toce-operate with the slidable lead 'gri a clutch is provided which consists of -a tu ular member or'thimble 55 of thin dresilient sheet metal secured within the tip 8'. The lower ortion of the thimble 55 is slotted to pro vi e separate resilient lingers 56 terminating in rounded ends 57 ada ted to co'- operate with the lead grip an especially f with the outward portion of the shoulder 50 thereon, asexplained below.

iis

.-izo

The slots or longitudinal openings 5 l formed between the lower members 3 and 4 of the guide structure 2 (provide lateral guides for the stems 21 an 22 when they are in their lower positions.v Desirably one edge of each of the members 3 and 4 along the corresponding slot 5 is pressed or bent inward to form a bead 60v which co-operates with the cranked member 40 of the corre-1 grades, qualities or colors may be placed.`

The lower end of the upper portion of the guide constituting the vchamber 65 is closed by an end plate 66. ,The upper end of the chamber may remain open so that access may be had to the spare leads by removing cap 14 and the eraser 16 or its holder 17.

Fig. 1 shows one stem 21 in fully retracted position and the other stem 22 in full projected or downward position.` 'In the `movement of stem 22 to the position shown,

its lead grip 45 passes between the spring `lingers 56 of the clutch 55 and the outer l end of the grip then encounters a shallow shoulder 8 formed in the tip at the inward end of its end bore, which closely fits the lead and the stem end. Further movement of the stem then causes the lower'stem end to move outwardly from the position shown in Fig. 8 through the tubular end of the lead grip to positively discharge the short lead stub L1 :from the grip. To load the pencil or to insert a fresh lead in grip 45 it is only necessary to retract stem 22 (or the Vother stem when it is in a corresponding position) slightly until the outer end of the stem is withdrawn to the position shown in Fig. 8, with shoulder 48 in engagement with shoulder 50 of grip 45. The outer periphery of shoulder 50 is still engaged by the curved ends of the clutch fingers 56. The new lead is then inserted through the bore in the end of the tip and into the grip sleeve 45. The stem is then retracted further, whereupon the grip sleeve 45 moves along with the stem, shoulder 50 passing upwardly between the clutch lingers 56 which yield outward to permit this passage. In the further inward movement of the stem,l the clutch fingers approximatelyt the lead and tend to steady and guide it until the voutward end of the lead passes above the fingers.

The stem movements 'are'accomplished by rotating cap 14 or the upper end of impeller sleeve 10 in one direction or the other. In the manner shown, sleeve 10 is turned in a right-hand direction. Impeller slot 30 then acts on stem projection 33 to move stem 2,2 inward vwhile slot 27 acts on projection 34 to move stem 21 outward or downward. During this time the cranked portion 40 oi stem 21 is in an angular or non-radial position as shownin Fig. 2, so that the lead grip and lead carried by stem 21 are locatedtoward one side of the lower central cham 'of stem 22 is in shown in Figs. 2 and 3, with the lead grip f vandlead aligned with the tip bore and the ber of the pencil, and the cranked portion a radial position, as also central axis of the pencil. When the described movement has continued until the lead grips are nearly opposite. or until members 24 of stem 21'approaches the upper end of the angular portion 23 of the corresponding guide slot 23, and member 25 of stem 22 approaches the lower end of the corresponding angular guide slot portion, themembers 24 and 25 then pass .respectively downward and upward through said angular guide slot portions, which rotate the respective stems somewhat less than a'quarter-turn, to reverse the angular positions of the crank stem members; or in other words,

to bring the lead of stem 21 to central position while the grip and lead of stem 22 are moved toward one side of the central chamber. Further continued rotation of the cap in the same direction then causes'lead L carried by stem 21, to be projected from the tip for use. v

While thel itch-angle of the impeller slots could be madb uniform in some cases, such an arrangementwould tend to increase the length of the pencil for a certain totall amount of longitudinal lead travel.' To keelp the length of t-he pencil as small as possib e within reasonable limits, therefore, it is usually preferable to make a short portion,

. such as the portions 29 and 32. of each impeller slot, of relatively line pitch. ThereV fore. when one lead is nearly fully projected or its grip 1s in nearly lowermost position,

the-other lead and its stem 'have relatively small lon itudinal travel by reason of the corresponding projections 34 or 33, being located in the slot portions 29 or 32. The angular guide' slot portions 23 may be so located with res ect toA the impeller. slots that `the lswitching or ivotal movement of the stem will occur while at least one of them is in the lower portion o f one ofthe fine-pitch slot sections, or while both of the projections 33 and 34 are in an upper part of the coarse-pitch Sections 31 and .28 respectively. v

AYVhen either lead is in projected position, it may be adjusted for the desired length of cap 14. The complete retraction of either -writing point by appropriate rotation of j justment of it for proper writing length is effected almost automatically and practically instantly, after the pencil has been manipulated only once or twice by the ordinary user.-` The ejection of a lead or lead stub is also practically automatic. since when a. lead is nearly used up and becomes shorter and shorter it will naturally be projected more and more, until finally the lead grip is brought down to lowe-rmost position, as

An eraser 16a' may shown in Fig. 1, and ejected in the manner previously described. Figs. 9 to 12 show a modification in which the impeller 10l is in the form of a centrallylocated cylinder having impeller grooves 27 and 30E which cross each other at diametrically opposite faces of the cylinder. These grooves may have lower ortions of coarse pitch and upper portions o ine pitch, as in the case of the slots of imfpeller 10. The upper end of the cylinder is ormed of a squared head 7() detachably engaged by a s uared socket 71 formed on the lower end o a hollow knob 72 which is provided with a groove 13 as in the case of the upper end of the impeller tube of Fig. 1 to co-operate with a bead 12 formed in the upper end of case 1. To facilitate removal and replacement of thejknob 72 theupper end, of the tube is desirably provided with longitudinal slots 74 so that the knob groove 13 may be easily snapped into and out of engagement with the segments of the casing bead 12.

knob and a cap 75 is the outer end of the knob `to conceal the eraser.

The lower end of the impeller is rotatably mounted in a plate 76 located at the lower ends of guide members 77 which are of substantially semi-cylindrical form and located oppositely against the inward wall 0f the case, Fig. 10. late 76 is arranged to.. flt and locate the lower ends of these guide members. The impeller cylinder may be further located and guided in central portions of plates 78, which are of approximately semi-cylindrical form. These plates also have edges engaging against narrow flanges 80 formed on the guide members 77 to hold the latter in position. Guide slots 82 are formed in inward portions of the guide members. To cooperate with the described impeller and Guide slot arrangements of the respective lea stems-21 and 22, each has a single projection 23 at its lower end, this projection being arranged to pass through the correspondin guide slot 82 and engage in the correspon mg impeller channel 27 a or 30a. The guide slots have angular portions similar tothe portions 23c previously de scribed and by rotating the impeller cylinder the stems are moved for the projection or retraction of either lead and its adjustment in a mannerv substantially similar to that described in connection with Figs. 1 to 8.

If in any case the projections 23 do not properly follow the impeller channels or tend to be diverted from the proper course where these channels intersect, followers 84; may be provided, which ed on the stem projections, these followers having tapered or rounded ends and being long enough to insure the proper following the 1mi stub is theirV be litted into the hollow detachably fitted over ya plurality of lead stems arranged therein are pivotally mount-A of one of the impeller channels. One of the followers 84 is s own in Fig. `11 in position` in-its corres ondin channel 27UL at the intersection o the atter with channel 30, showing clearly the manner in vwhich the follower pursues its course through vthe proper channel while crossing the other one.

Spare leads may be located in either of the chambers 86, provided between side plates 78 and the casing wall, and access may be had to them by removing the'knob 72.

For a given lead travel the pencil constructed in accordance with Figs. 9 to 12 may j in some cases be made substantially shorter than in the other construction, for the reason that `the two 'impeller channels occupy substantially the same lon itudinal portion of the impeller body. he construction a's shown in Figs. 1 to 8 may, however, be employed in a pencil which gives the desired amount of lead travel and is no longer than ordinary or -known types of adjustable pencils. A

I claim: 1. An adjustable pencil comprising a case,

for longitudinal and pivotal movement, a rotary impeller in the case having helicalchannels, the lead stems having members cooperating with the respective channels for longitudinal stem movement, and guide channels located longitudinally in the case and having angular portions and co-operating with members of the lead stems to move them pivotally at a certain point in their longitudinal travel, the stems being moved simultaneously in opposite directions and partly rotated to selectively project and retract the different leads, by rotation of the impeller.

2. An adjustable pencil comprising a case, a plurality of lead stems arranged therein for longitudinal and pivotal movement, a rotary im eller in the case having helical channels, t e lead stems havingmembers cooperating with vvthe respective channels for simultaneous movement of diderent stems in opposite directions, and guide channels located longitudinally in the case and having angular portions and co-operating with members of the lead stems to move them pivotally at a certain point in their longitudinal travel, the guide channels being located in a generally tubular guide structure located in an upward part'of the casing and within the impeller.

3. An adjustable pencil comprising a case', a plurality of lead stems arranged therein for longitudinal and pivotal movement, a rotary tubular impeller in the casing having helical channels, the lead stems having lateral projections cooperating with the res/pecltive channels for simultaneous movement of different stems in opposite directions, and guide channels located longitudinally in `the llU leo

tions and co-operating with members o the lead stems to move them pivotally at a certain point in their longitudinal travel, the guide channels being located in a generally tubular guide structure located in an. upward part of the casing and within the 1mpeller, said guide structure having lower eX- tensions non-rotatively secured to the case.

5. An adjustable pencil lcomprising a tubular case, a tubular impeller rotatively mounted therein and provided with a helical channel, a guide structure located within the impeller and non-rotatively secured 1n the case, the guide structure also having a generally-longitudinal guide channel including a diagonal portion, and av cranked` lead stem mounted for longitudinal and plv- -otal movement in the guide structure and having a member engagingwith the impeller and guide channels to produce longitudinal and pivotalmovement of the stem by rotation of the impeller, the guide structure also having a lower` -longitudinal slot to guide the stem in its lower positions.

.-6. An adjustable bular case, a tubu ar impeller rotatively mounted therein and provided with a helical channel, a guide structure located within the impeller and non-rotatively secured in the case, the guide structure also having a generally-longitudinal guide channel including a diagonal portion, and a cranked lead stem mounted for longitudinal and plvotal move ment in the guide structure and having a member engaging with the impeller and guide channels to produce longitudinal and pivotal movement 'of the stem byrotat1onof the impeller, the guide structure also having a lower longitudinal slot to guide the stem Y in its lower positions, the slot having a flange to limit pivotal movement of the stem by co-operation with its cranked portion...

7 i AAn adjustable pencil comprising a tubular case, a tubular `impeller rotatively mounted therein and provided with a plurality of helical channels, a guide structure 4located within the impeller and having members engaging theease and also having longitudinal guide channels each including a diagonal portion, and a phirality of cranked lead stems mounted for longitudinal and plvlocated within the impeller pencil comprising a tuotal movement in theguide structure, thel stems having members engaging with the impeller channels and the guide channels to v produce longitudinal and pivotal movement of the stems by rotation of the impeller. f 8. Anadjustable bular case, a tubu arA impeller rot-atively mounted therein and provided with a plurality of helical channels, a guide structure and having members engaging thecase and also having longitudinal gulde channels each includin a diagonal portion, and a plurality of cran ed lead stems vmounted for longitudinal and pivotal movement in the guide structure, the stems having members engaging with the impeller channels and the guide channels to produce longitudinal and pivotal movement of the stems by rotation of the impeller, the guide structure also 'having lower longitudinal 'slots to guide the stems in their lower positions.

v9.v An adjustable pencil comprising a tubular case, a tubular impeller rotatively mounted therein and provided with a plurality of helical channels, a guide structure located within ythe impeller and `having neil comprislng a tu-` 'asA members engaging the case, the guide channel including a diagonal portion and a plurality of cranked lead stems mounted for longitudinal and pivotal movement in the guide structure, the stems having members engaging with the impeller channels and the gulde channelsy to produce longitudinal and pivotal movement ofthe stems by rotation of the impeller, the guide structure also having lower longitudlnal slots to guide the stems in their lower positions, the slots having flanges to limit pivotal movement of the stems by co-operation with their cranked portions.

10. A pencil comprising a case, a lead stem mounted therein for longitudinal and pivotal movement and having a cranked portion, and a relatively movable lead the lower end thereof, the casingtip a central bore to vguide and guide means` within with the lead land lead grip to support and guide the lead and also to operate the grip.

11. A pencil comprising a case, a lead stem mounted therein for longitudinal and piv-l otal movement and having a cranked portion, a lead grip mounted for limited reciprocating movement on the stem, and a clutch comprising flexible means located within the case near its lower end and adapted to cooperate with the lead grip to return the gri to normal position after it has been retracteirl` on the stem in a lead-ejecting action.

12. A pencil comprising a case having a tip, a plurality of lead stems mounted therevin for lon 'tudinal and pivotal movement, each stem aving a cranked portion, a lead the projected lead, thetip co-operating grip at` aving movement on each stem below said cranked portion, gers located within the case near its lower end adapted to co-operate with the lead grips to return them to normal position after ejecting actions.

13. A pencil structure comprising a case, a lead stem therein arranged for reciprocating and pivotal movement and having a portion of reduced diameter, a lead grip mounted for reciprocatin movement on the lower end of the stem an having a portion iitting the reduced stem portion, the lower end of the case having a tip provided with a lead bore and an interior shoulder to co-operate with the end of the lead grip, and a clutch including yieldable fingers adapted to permit passage of the lead grip and toV co-oper ate with a shoulder thereon ,to return the grip to normal position on the stem after a lead-ejecting action.

and a clutch comprising exible fin- Y a lead tion of reduced diameter, a lead gri mounted for reciprocating movementl on t e lower end of the stem and having a portion ttng the reduced stem portion; the case having a tip provided with a leadl bore and an interior shoulder to co-operate with the end of the lead grip, and a clutch including mit passage of the lead grip and to co-operate with a shoulder thereon to return the gri to normal position on the stem after a lea -ejecting action.

Signed at New York city in the county of New-York and State of New York this 18th day of July A. D. 1924.

, FRANK FUREDY.

the lower end of"` yieldalole` fingers adapted to per- 

